Abstract
Background: Incidences and causative organisms of neonatal sepsis in the developing countries are underreported. The aim of the study was to determine the overall incidence of neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants born at one of university hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the period 1999 to 2007, and identify the incidences and commonest isolated pathogens in both early and late onset episodes of sepsis in this group of infants. Methods: A retrospective study of all very low birth weight (500grams to 1500 grams) infants born at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) in Riyadh over a 9-year period from January 1999 to December 2007 were included. Data were collected from medical records and NICU database after obtaining ethics approval. All cultures were taken (blood and/or CSF) prior to initiation of antibiotics. Only first episodes of sepsis were considered in this study. The main outcomes are total incidences of sepsis, incidence of early and late onset sepsis, and the causative pathogens for each type of sepsis. Results: 48% of included infants (225/468) had positive blood cultures. The incidence of early onset sepsis (EOS) was 10.9% and of late onset sepsis (LOS) was 37.1%. Gram positive pathogens were the commonest causative organisms in both early and late onset sepsis (74.5% and 87.4% respectively). Staphylococcus epidermis was the commonest single pathogen isolated in both groups (45% in EOS, and 63.8% in LOS). Conclusion: The rate of neonatal sepsis in VLBW infants was high (48%) with high rates of EOS as well as LOS which necessitates a high priority to prevent and control sepsis in our unit.
Highlights
Neonatal sepsis continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity in newborns
Onset neonatal sepsis (EOS), defined by the Center for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) as blood or cerebrospinal fluid cultureproven infection occurring in the first three days of life, is typically caused by organisms transmitted vertically from the mother to the infant before or at the time of birth [3]; while Late Onset Neonatal Sepsis (LOS), an infection occurring after day 3 of life, is more likely to be caused by pathogens acquired during the course of hospital care
The aim of this study is to estimate the incidence of early and late neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants born at University hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and to re-examine causative pathogens involved in each group
Summary
Neonatal sepsis continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity in newborns. This condition is more profound in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants (weighing between 500 grams and 1500 grams), despite many advances in obstetrical and neonatal care [1]. The incidence of neonatal sepsis in developed countries ranges from 10-25% for all infants and reached up to 50% in VLBW infants [2]. The aim of the study was to determine the overall incidence of neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants born at one of university hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the period 1999 to 2007, and identify the incidences and commonest isolated pathogens in both early and late onset episodes of sepsis in this group of infants
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